Philbill

Hi I'm back from the Amazon (minus all our luggage which the airline has in Manaus). One young couple was definitely fit and did some training. Some I'm not sure. I think the more you can hear firsthand would be of more benefit to you. I recall that the last day was apparently spent mostly sliding down the trail and that was hard on everyone's legs. We got the first bus from A. C. and it was not in time for sunrise. However, there were only a very few people there and it was glorious. M. P. can be shrouded in mist/clouds etc.. Our photoes look as if we were the only people there!! Some people walk back into town as it is downhill. We saw them from the bus, sometimes on the road and sometimes on a pathway that cut off some of the distance. I would rather spend the time at the ruins rather than walking to them. My husband walked up one of the trails from the ruins. They have some short ones and a person takes your name when you start out so they have a log. That would be a far better use of your time in my opinion. Isn't it great doing the planning for a trip?!! What fun!
Philbill

Trekker06

I recently returned from Peru, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu. First, I want to say it was an amazing trip. Before we left Peru, we were already planning to return to see other parts of the country. The country is great, the people are great, and I can’t wait to go back. I have a few random responses to previous posts:

I too stayed at San Antonio Abad in Lima, and recommend it. Our plane was rerouted due to a volcano in Ecuador and thus we had an unplanned layover in Panama. We arrived at the airport at 3am, and the hotel’s driver was there in 10 minutes. (The hotel is ½ hour from the airport, so I guess he was waiting nearby) Please arrange for your hotel to pick you up especially at late hours, as we later met someone whose taxi driver stopped in a remote area and demanded $100. The guide books talk of this, and it is real. Anyway, stay in the Miraflores area of Lima – it is very nice. Hostal El Patio was also very pleasant.

I concur with everything italingua said above. The Inca Trail was an experience of a lifetime. No exaggeration. It was one of the top experiences and accomplishments of my life. We used GAP Adventures, and I cannot say enough great things about them, the guide, the porters, the cook, the food. This tour goes (from Lima) to Cusco, through the Sacred Valley, then the Trail and Machu Picchu (and back to Cusco & Lima). You also get a peek into individual’s lives and communities along the way that will leave you wanting more (in a good way, I mean).

I also strongly agree with his above comment that in some places like Peru, luxury travel does not feel appropriate.

Anyway, back to the Trail. My girlfriend and I were in pretty good shape, from our daily life of urban hiking and going to the gym, and the Trail was very challenging. But it is so exhilarating, you can go at your own pace, and the distances are reasonable, that we were never “haggard.” People in good shape can do it, but I highly recommend preparing. Go to the gym, do the stairmaster (for those never ending Inca stairs), maybe take training hikes. You will be glad you did and you will enjoy the trail that much more. I can’t believe some people would never recommend the Trail to anyone. I think I’ve recommended it to everyone who has asked me about my trip, and many who haven’t! With close friends, we’ve nearly demanded they do it. And it is definitely the best way to arrive to Machu Picchu.

As far as altitude sickness, it is a concern. I took Diamox a day before Cusco, and upped the dose to 2 in Cusco because I had headaches and general feeling of getting a cold. An afternoon nap after arriving in Cusco, or an early bedtime helped others in my group. And the coca tea every day seems to help. Or go native and chew the leaves! From then on everyone seemed fine. Regarding being uncomfortable with porters carrying your things: I understand how you feel, but you are providing a good job for them to support their families. They are wonderful people and some of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen. There are lots of issues with their pay and treatment that you can learn about at the Inka Porter Project website http://www.peruweb.org/porters/ and at http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/...r_welfare.html. There’s a lot of other general info at http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/index.html The Porter Project is no longer active, but much of the info still applies. So use a good company that hopefully treats their porters well, and you will see that it is incredibly hard work for them, but it is not demeaning. On the trail, I don’t recall if it is 500 people starting each day, or 500 people on the trail at any one time, but it is not crowded in any way. (that 500 includes the 300 porters, guides and cooks). The groups are spread out and the campsites are spread out. Even the campsites with several groups are arranged in such a way that you aren’t at all on top of each other. The bathroom and outhouse facilities are fine - sometimes primitive and a little smelly, but no worse than many restaurants’ bathrooms in Lima.

So there you have it! Happy Trekking!

Trekker06

Oh, and if you plan to do the Inca Trail, book early, as the slots during peak months can fill up quickly.

cruzan19

ttt